At 15, Chise Hatori, bereft of kin and hope, is sold not to a human but to Elias, a non-human mage. Despite initial doubts, she embraces a fresh start as his apprentice and prospective spouse. As she adjusts to her new, tranquil existence, a Japanese picture book from Angelica in London triggers memories of her troubled past. This tale serves as a precursor to her pivotal meeting with the Thorn Sorcerer.